Spanish-Chinese cooperation on fuel inspection systems

Enusa and Tecnatom of Spain have agreed to cooperate with China's Suzhou Nuclear Power Research Institute (SNPI) in the field of nuclear fuel inspection systems.

Enusa's Mariano Rodriguez and Roberto Gonzalez shake hands with Wang An of SNPI and Tecnatom's Manuel Fernandez following the signing of the agreement (Image: Enusa)

The three companies signed a framework cooperation agreement on 28 January, Enusa announced yesterday.

Under the agreement, the parties will work together to introduce the fuel inspection equipment and technologies developed by Enusa and Tecnatom into China General Nuclear (CGN), SNPI's parent company.

Enusa said, "This agreement will boost the business of the two Spanish companies in the Chinese market, where in recent months they have supplied equipment for quality control in the nuclear fuel manufacturing phase to the Yibin fuel factory owned by China National Nuclear Corporation."

The two Spanish companies began cooperating with SNPI in 2014 with the signing of a supply agreement for their jointly-developed SICOM-UT ultrasonic irradiated fuel inspection system. This system was delivered last year to SNPI's facilities in Daya Bay in China's Guangdong province.

In October 2007, the China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute (CNPRI) and Tecnatom established the 75-25 joint venture company CITEC. This supplies in-service inspection and non-destructive testing technology research and development and technical services. In January 2012, the equity and management right of CNPRI was transferred to SNPI.